Dark Horse Book Of Monsters, Ragmop

[Timaximus]

This (http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=65732) says the Book of Monsters comes out this week. Huh, I don't recall even seeing the cover before now (http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/___237468?SSAID=156429). A couple weeks early, even!

And, as the Ragmop collection comes out the same day, did anyone notice that Rob Walton posted a scan of the black and white art (http://planetlucypress.blogspot.com/2006/11/mignola-cover.html) for Mignola's cover (http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/32/9596_20051221235734_large.jpg)?

[Neil Hill]

I'm pretty sure that Book of Monsters doesn't ship for another week or so. Not sure if you already have one in hand, but I know I sure don't.

I really like that Ragmop cover in b/w better than in color. The colors are just so unlike how Dave Stewart normally colors Mike's work, that it stands out in stark contrast. Not in a bad way mind you, but IMHO not in a good way either.Thanks for sharing the link!

[Xequals10]

I did some checking around and it is true both Dark Horse Book of Monsters and Goon Vol. 5 Wicked Inclinations will be out Wednesday. Can't wait!

[parrish]

Awesome. I've liked all the other ones that have come out.

[Myron L]

I did some checking around and it is true both Dark Horse Book of Monsters and Goon Vol. 5 Wicked Inclinations will be out Wednesday. Can't wait!

Ditto...DH BOM is out this week...I have mine ordered !!!! WOOHOO!!! New Hellboy by Mike !!!!!!!

[Xequals10]

This (http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=65732) says the Book of Monsters comes out this week. Huh, I don't recall even seeing the cover before now (http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/___237468?SSAID=156429). A couple weeks early, even!

And, as the Ragmop collection comes out the same day, did anyone notice that Rob Walton posted a scan of the black and white art (http://planetlucypress.blogspot.com/2006/11/mignola-cover.html) for Mignola's cover (http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/32/9596_20051221235734_large.jpg)?

What's the deal with this Ragmop book? Is Mike just doing the cover or what?

[Attezarf]

Hello!

I'm afraid I'm guilty of rarely coming by or posting to ye olde HELLBOY messageboard, anymore. But when I surfed-in & took a peek tonight.. I couldn't help but be intrigued by the mention of Rob Walton's RAGMOP book, in this Thread..

The coloring on that cover doesn't look like Dave Stewart.. because it was done by ME!! haha
I agree that it doesn't completely work. But Photoshop was still fairly new to me, at the time. And I kind of stumbled along, as best I could..
In hindsight, I think I got a bit too "cute" with the modelling I added to the Dinosaurs. But I do still like the Cosmic effects I added deep in that Milky Way BG!

Rob's a good friend.. And I helped him out a fair bit with small Production details, on RAGMOP.. PrePress layout setups, digital coloring.. Setting Text blocks, etc.
With this cover, Rob decided to go "all out" with a kind of EC Science-Fiction comic homage.. Hence, my hand-drawn Lettering (the G looks too "squeezed" to me, now).. and the 'faux' Rocketblast sidebar, etc..

I think Rob self-published around 12 or 13 issues of his RAGMOP title?.. It's about 6 years of hard work, all told . And I think it's a pretty remarkable achievement!
He has spent the last year or so, adding about 100 more pages of completely "new" material to this whopping 464-page Trade Paperback collection?!!
He's added transition pages between the individual issues.. And completely redrawn some Sequences, that he wasn't originally happy with..

Mignola did the cover to RAGMOP #4 as a favour to Rob. In exchange for a HELLBOY Pinup that Mr. Walton did for Mike.. Which to my knowledge, has never seen print..

Anyhow, that's the story behind-the-story.. Now, you're up to date!
Cheers!!

-- Rich

[Neil Hill]

No hatin' intended regarding my comments about your coloring job, Rob. I think you did a fine job (more than fine). The colors just stand out in stark contrast to how Mike normally likes his work finished. Just different variations on a theme I suppose, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. :) Thanks for stopping in to add your two cents.

[sofaking]

another one for the xmas list

[Tad]

I really enjoyed Mike's story in The Dark Horse Book of Monsters. "The Hydra and the Lion" is a view of Greek mythology that I can't imagine coming out of any other writer than Mike. In fact, it feels pretty unique among his stories, although definitely leaning into the comedic column.

I his depiction of Alaska and the design of the old man who leads Hellboy to the monster. Maybe it's just the costuming but he seems different than the normal supporting role than Mike usually draws. Almost a touch of Joe Kubert influence. Again, probably just the costume.

I've always loved the format of these books and they always felt like a great value for a hard cover. The Troll Witch story was a stand out although not really an HB story. The only one I didn't like was "The Ghoul" in the Dark Horse Book of the Dead because the experiment of haveing the antagonist quote poetry instead of engaging Hellboy in dialogue. But everything else about the story, the puppets, the worms, the BPRD agent, the atmosphere of the art, the story... I really like. So I'm probably an idiot. I'll have to reread it.

I'll let others talk about the other stories of the volume. I loved the fictional account of Marvel's change from monsters to superheroes, there's another wonderful animal story by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson and a great lost worlds-type monster story by John Reppion, Leah Moore with really neat artwork by Timothy Green II. Hmmn. Guess I talked about them. I'm a big fan of William Hope Hodgson, author of the book's text piece. The other stories were strong with some solid characters and nice female leads but the art not quite to my taste.

Put all the books on your Christmas list if you don't have them already. Great job, Scott. Sad to see the series end.

[redoogie]

Ive been tracking this book since it was first announced and im happy its finally here. Looking forward to picking it up soon, or maybe I should just add it to my Xmas list eh?

[Ninth Hispana]

....Hey,..has anyone else,besides Tad and myself read ''The Hydra and the Lion''??.I've read it about 8 or 9 times now, it's not your normal run of the mill graveyard ''HB'' story.I fully expect Freud's ghost to turn up in a future issue,...I'm still thinking about it..... I like it,..but [laughter] can't help feeling Mike is playing with my brain [more laughter]....OY!....Be careful what you wish for folk's......All the Best..

[agent44]

I just got the Book of Monsters yesterday and now that the quadrology is finished I can say the Book of the Dead is the best in the series. However, my favorite Hellboy story of the bunch was Dr Carp's Experiment. And the Hydra and the Lion....lets just say I'll take whatever Mignola drawn Hellboy story I can get, though it's not Mignola at his best. Except that last page...that was hillarious.

[E. Spears]

I don't have Book of Monsters yet, but I asked for it for xmas, so maybe I'll get to read it after that. Woo.

[parrish]

I was instructed by family/friends not to buy it, so I imagine I will have a copy by the new year. :)

[Angilas-Man]

Only 14 posts on this thread!?! Did everyone get this book for Christmas and not read it yet?

Anywho, just read it myself, and it was wonderful. The past HB short stories in the book of series have been nice, but their was something about them that just seemed too little. Just as you got real interested it was over, but in 10 pages "The Hydra and the Lion" provides a classic, juicy, full Hellboy story which is surpassed only by "Pancakes" in terms of sheer humor/quirkiness.

Hellboy- Aw crap!

Kid- You said a bad word.

[Kelly Tindall]

I got THE BOOK OF THE DEAD for Christmas, and I loved it.

THE GHOUL, Mike's story, was definitely NOT my favorite, though... Too arch and wordy, and having three characters performing three different sets of verse as dialogue felt unwieldy to me. It felt more like a poetry adaptation than a Hellboy story, but I'm so starved for Mignola-drawn material right now that I feel like an ingrate for even criticising it.

Eric Powell's story was great, probably the scariest one. Guy Davis' story with Jamie Rich was excellent... over-written a bit (the ninja, what?) but perfect artwork and a truly horrible monster. I really enjoyed the Robert Howard story, and I want to give Jill Thompson a high-five for her watercolors.

A really excellent book with amazing creators... affordable, too. Have to get that MONSTERS one, too.

-K.

[parrish]

I really liked the Hellboy story in it. The old man was funny and Hellboy saying "oy" was, too.

I ordered mine with a Barnes and Noble gift card that I got for Christmas from my sister-in-law.

[The Xenos]

I got all four books for Christmas. I wish I had got them sooner. Wonderful little books.

So far I've read the Hellboy and Rex Mundi stories in the Monsters book and the Hellboy story in the Witchcraft book. All very cool.

I also read the intros by Scott Allie. I also read the Hauntings intro as it meantioned Peabody, MA. Now that I know he's from around the Ipswitch / Peabody area I have to check out his locally set Devil's Footprints. I've become hooked on local set horror.

[DannyBoy7783]

I don't mean to be a party pooper but I was really disappointed with this volume. I liked the HB story, as always but it wasn't the best of the series. The dog story was good but again, not the best of the series. The comic about the woman with the blue demon baby was cool and the art was great. It was one of the high points I thought. I must confess that I didn't read the next story yet so it may change my opinion of the book somewhat. I really didn't like the first story about the monster hunter, the story about the paleontologists, or the rex mundi story. They seemed strange, short, and somewhat silly.

This is not the best of the series and I'd have to say the The Dead probably is, or Witchcraft. It's a shame that the series will be ending because I think it has real potential and there is so much more they could do with it but if this volume is indicative of DH's efforts then you can tell they have really run out of steam here.

I'm glad I own it and it's worth reading but it's definitely not the best of the four. I imagine that others here may have the same opinion (to some degree) as there isn't much discussion on this book at this point, even with a new HB story in it.

*edit* I was thinking more about the rex mundi story and it just rubs me the wrong way. I think a vampire story would have been a much better inclusion here. Something dark and gothic looking. Vampires could have their own volume as far as I'm concerned but they are a monster. Frankenstein has been done before and there really wasn't much new done with the rex mundi story. I think vampires offer a little more variety for a book like this, especially visually.

[Jankenstein]

On a slightly different train of thought, I highly recommend the Ragmop TPB. It's the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Rob really outdid himself on this one.